UC-NRLF 


P   S 

1939 

H6 

A8 

1888 

MAIN 


by 


-. 


LI  BR  AR  Y 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

GIRT    OR 


Received 
Accessions  No. 


Shelf  No. 


- 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  LOVE. 


BY 

WARREN  HOLDEN, 

AUTHOK  OF  "  FOURTEEN  SONNETS*'  AND  "  SONG  OF  THE  SEA. 


PRESS  OF  J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY, 
1888. 


COPYRIGHT,  1888,  BY  WARREN  HOLDEN. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

I._AVANT-PROPOS.    CONSTANCY  (1828)    .    .    .        .        .7 

II.— LOVE:  ONE  SPIRIT,  MANY  MANIFESTATIONS  .  8 

III.— YOUNG  LOVE'S  FIRST  LAY 9 

IV.— INTERLUDE 12 

V.— LONGING 13 

VI.-THE  VESTAL  VIRGIN 15 

VII.— INTERLUDE 17 

VIII— ABSENCE .18 

IX.-REPEAT  THE  TALE 20 

X.— OPPOSITION 22 

XI—  WOMELSDORF 24 

XII.— JEALOUSY 26 

XIII.— SYMPATHY  OF  NATURE 28 

XIV.— LOVE'S  EXILE  .  30 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

XV.— THE  QUEST  OF  LOVE        .        .       • 32 

XVI.-ODE  TO  LOVE 36 

XVII.— HOPE  DEFERRED 45 

XVIII.— WEDDING  ANNIVERSARY 47 

XIX— LOVE  BIDES  ITS  TIME 48 

XX.— LOVE'S  SILENT  INFLUENCE 50 

XXL— BOYHOOD'S  LOVE 52 

XXII.— WEDDED  LOVE 55 

XXIII.-" IF  I  LOVE  YOU,  WHAT  IS  THAT  TO  YOU?"         .  5G 

XXIV.-L'ENVOI.    CONSTANCY  (1888)  59 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    LOVE. 


I. 
AVANT-PROPOS. 


CONSTANCY  (1828). 

How  often  hath  the  simple  tale  been  told 
Of  sudden,  rapt,  unutterable  joy 
When  love  first  thrills  the  heart  of  guileless 


And  colors  everything  with  rose  and  gold. 
Once  kindled,  love's  strong  flame  can  ne'er  grow 

cold; 

The  clouds  of  care  may  hide,  but  not  destroy  ; 
Nor  will  its  honeyed  sweetness  ever  cloy, 
Though  taste  be  delicate  and  culture  old. 
And  even  in  the  blissful  realms  above 

If  aught  could  chill  pure  love's  perennial  glow, 

Let  void  Nirvana  quench  the  conscious  me. 

Not  Heaven  shall  make  man  false  to  boyhood's 

love. 

Embarked  upon  its  tide  shall  being  flow 
On  in  eternal  continuity. 


ONE  SPIRIT,  MANY  MANIFESTATIONS. 

A  CYNOSURE  in  boyhood's  roseate  sky, 

Her  fairy  figure  floated  airily 

To  lure  him  onward  towards  his  destiny, — 
The  heaven  reflected  in  her  laughing  eye. 
The  altar  where  she  prayed  oft  heard  his  sigh, 

For  there  betimes  he  bent  the  pious  knee 

To  worship  God — in  virgin  purity. 
'Twas  bliss  to  be,  if  only  she  were  nigh. 
But  each  horizon  brings  bright  stars  to  view ; 

And  many  marvels  love's  career  befall, 

Ere  it  may  choose  for  better  or  for  worse. 
One  substance  many  forms  may  well  endue. 

Who  shares  the  gift  of  God  is  heir  to  all 
The  love  whose  beauty  fills  the  universe. 


III. 


YOUNG  LOVE'S  FIRST  LAY. 


OH,  my  life,  may  our  love,  as  with  angels  above, 
Never  ebb,  but  flow  onward  for  aye ! 

For  better  or  worse,  'mid  success  or  reverse, 
Be  we  tender  and  constant  as  they. 

And  still  will  I  love  thee  wherever  I  rove, 
O'er  the  mountain  or  billowy  main ; 

In  sickness  or  health,  or  in  want  or  in  wealth, 
As  I  love  thee,  oh,  love  me  again ! 


10  YOUNG    LOVE'S    FIRST    LAY. 

In  the  heat  and  the  strife  of  an  ever-vexed  life 
With  ambition  let  other  hearts  burn  ; 

Full  contented  with  this,  we'll  not  ask  other  bliss 
Than  to  love  and  be  loved  in  return. 


Oh,  tell  of  it  not  how  in  yonder  lone  spot, 

Where  the  evergreens  fondly  entwine, 
Hand  in  hand  we  did  plight,  heart  with  heart  to 


unite, — 


Yours  the  blessing,  the  blessed  was  mine ! 


Then  we  pledged  with  love's  seal  that  for  woe 
or  for  weal 

The  exchange  should  endure  to  the  last, 
And  as  oft  as  we  sealed,  each  impression  revealed 

Our  engagement  more  full  and  more  fast. 


11 


Like  the  flowers  that  blow  where  the  lone  waters 

flow, 

Unplucked  by  the  thoughtless  and  gay, 
We  will   hide   our   young  love  only   witnessed 

above 
By  the  stars  in  their  silent  array; 

We  will  seek  a  lone  dell  where  in  peace  we  may 
dwell, 

From  the  heartless  and  worldly  removed, 
Unpretending  in  worth,  but  with  innocent  mirth , 

Simply  loving  and  being  beloved. 


IV. 


INTERLUDE. 

THE  brooklet  babbles  by  the  way, 

The  bird  replies  above. 
And  what,  I  pray  you>  may  they  say? 

The  tale  they  tell  is  love. 


V. 


LONGING. 

As  the  constant  dove  bewaileth  its  love 

When  absent  from  its  side, 
So  for  thee  I  pine,  thou  desire  of  mine, 

My  own,  my  chosen  bride. 

In  the  silent  night,  when  dreams  of  delight 

My  waking  fancies  lull, 
Then  thou  art  there,  oh,  thou  vision  fair, 

"  My  own,  my  beautiful !" 


14  LONGING. 

Among  the  crowd  of  beauty  proud 

One  face  alone  I  see; 
And  that  sweet  face,  whence  beams  each  grace, 

Belongeth  to  none  but  thee. 

Reft  part  of  my  soul,  to  restore  it  whole, 

Thou  must  be  my  wedded  wife; 
Oh,  haste  the  glad  day, — I  can  brook  no  delay, — 

My  love,  my  very  life ! 


VI. 

THE  VESTAL  VIRGIN. 

SWEET  virgin,  priestess  of  my  soul, 
My  bosom  is  thy  shrine; 

I  own  thy  mystical  control, 
I'm  all  and  only  thine. 

Here  on  the  altar  of  my  heart 
Thou  fann'st  the  sacred  flame, 

And  well  dost  act  thy  sisters'  part 
Of  yore,  who  did  the  same. 


16  THE   VESTAL   VIRGIN. 

Pure  vestal,  in  thy  virgin  pride, 

Fulfil  thy  pious  vow; 
Then  will  I  claim  thee  for  my  bride. 

Oh,  that  the  time  were  now ! 


VII. 
INTERLUDE. 

WELCOME,  joyous  spring, 

Bringing  flowers. 
Music  birds  are  on  the  wing, 

Singing  in  thy  bowers. 
Happy  love's  the  song  they  sing 

All  the  sunny  hours. 


VIII. 

ABSENCE. 

MY  heart  is  with  thee,  dearest, 
Though  I  wander  far  away ; 

And  thine  image  still  is  nearest 
When  loneliest  I  stray. 

Doth  not  thy  spirit  hover, 

With  tender  sympathy, 
O'er  thy  fond,  faithful  lover 

Who  longs  and  weeps  for  thee? 


ABSENCE. 


1  9 


Though  envious  space  may  sever 
Our  bodies  here  below,, 

Our  souls  shall  mingle  ever 
In  the  land  to  which   we  go. 


IX. 


REPEAT  THE  TALE. 

OH,  tell  the  rapturous  story  o'er 

Of  how  you  learned  to  love  me  first, 

And  tell  it  as  you  told  before 

When  forth  the  glowing  secret  burst, 

All  eloquent  with  love-taught  lore, 

With  love-taught  falterings  interspersed ! 

Again  my  bounding  heart  shall  beat 

While  whispering  sighs  confess  thee  mine, 

Again  the  willing  vow  repeat 
To  be  forever  only  thine; 

And  hope  and  memory  be  replete 
With  dreams  and  visions  all  divine. 


REPEAT   THE   TALE.  21 

A  gladness  like  they  feel  above 

Rushed  through  my  heart  and  thrilled  my  frame, 
When  first,  with  accents  of  the  clove, 

You  called  me  by  my  household  name, 
As  breathing  from  your  lips  of  love 

My  own  dear  William  softly  came. 

Embarked  on  nature's  happy  tide, 

Oh,  might  the  voyage  of  life  be  proved 

With  thee,  dear  Mary,  by  my  side. 
We'd  meet  each  adverse  gale  unmoved, 

Rehearsing  with  alternate  pride 

How  well  we  love  and  are  beloved. 

Beloved  by  thee,  to  thee  alone 

My  heart's  dear  troth  is  ever  due; 

The  faith  of  love  then  let  us  own, 
To  all  true  bosoms  always  true. 

My  lady  love,  my  only  throne, 
My  sweetheart,  tell  the  tale  anew. 


OPPOSITION. 

THEY  told  her  she  was  cruelly  deceived, 
A  faithless  lover  had  abandoned  her. 

But  though  her  tender  heart  is  deeply  grieved, 
Yet  quiet  patience  waits  without  demur. 

Prophetic  love  hath  visions  of  its  own  : 
She  sees  her  lover  fight  his  inward  foe; 

She  hears  with  sympathy  his  piteous  moan ; 
She  feels  the  anguish  none  but  she  may  know. 


OPPOSITION.  23 

The  smiles  and  raillery  of  heartless  wit, 
Like  pointless  arrows  'gainst  a  coat  of  mail, 

Fall  harmless  at  her  feet,  or  never  hit. 

By  her  own  heart  she  knows  he  cannot  fail. 

Fidelity,  oh,  thou  art  wondrous  strong! 

Nor  time,  nor  death  thy  constancy  decrease. 
To  thee  the  endless  eons  shall  belong, 

With  tranquil  days  of  sweet,  unruffled  peace. 


XI. 

WOMELSDORF. 

DEAR  old  Womelsdorf, 
Quaint  and  quiet  town ; 

Hospitable  wharf 

When  love  was  like  to  drown, 

Pennsylvania  Dutch 

Was  the  common  speech  ; 

Though  I  listened  much, 
Quite  beyond  my  reach. 

But  one  voice  I  heard 

Would  be  understood, 
Though  no  single  word 

Smacked  of  Saxon  good. 


AVOMELSDORF.  25 

That  Avas  love's  s\veet  voice, 

Recognized  by  tone; 
Interpreted  by  choice 

Or  by  gesture  known. 

Love  not  garrulous 

Pleads  in  silent  look, 
Proxy  speaks  for  us 

Through  the  babbling  brook. 

Sweetly  singing  birds 

Tell  the  tender  tale. 
Love  can  hear  its  words 

Whispered  by  the  gale. 

Womelsdorf,  of  old, 

What  thou  Avast  to  me 
Tongue  hath  never  told : 

Love  alone  could  see. 


XII. 

JEALOUSY. 

So  you  sought  her  in  my  exile, 
Thought  to  win  the  pearl  of  price, 

Hoped  to  find  her  weak  and  flexile, 
Tried  the  trick  of  loaded  dice. 

Did  you  think  the  senseless  clamor, 
Of  her  lover  proved  untrue, 

Could  induce  a  magic  glamour 
That  would  see  a  saint  in  you? 

Did  you  deem  the  soul  of  honor 
Could  be  bought  as  cheap  as  dirt ; 

That  you  could  prevail  upon  her 
Easy  as  on  fickle  flirt? 


JEALOUSY.  27 

Paltry  object  of  derision, 

Woe-begone,  you  turned  to  go, 

When,  with  mild  but  firm  decision, 
Instantly  she  answered  no ! 

Blasted  be  the  mean  ambition 

That  could  steal  a  broken  heart; 

May  it  find  its  just  perdition, 
Victim  of  its  own  vile  art. 


XIII. 

SYMPATHY  OF  NATURE. 

FRIENDLY  trees,  familiar  grass, 
Saw  you  not  my  lady  pass, 
Crowned  with  wreath  of  golden  hair, 
Brighter  than  the  locks  you  wear  ? 
When  again  she  walks  this  way 
Note  her  elegant  array ; 
How  she  moves  with  courtly  pace, 
Belle  of  beauty,  queen  of  grace. 

Warbling  love  lays,  pretty  bird, 
Sure  I  am  you  must  have  heard. 
Eyes  she  has  of  heavenly  blue, 
And  she  carols  sweet  as  you. 


SYMPATHY   OF   NATURE.  29 

Streamlet,  purling  as  you  flow, 
You,  too,  seem  my  love  to  know. 
Tell  it  not,  thou  babbling  brook, 
How  in  yonder  shady  nook 
Where  the  loving  tendrils  twine 
Twice  she  promised  to  be  mine. 

River,  rushing  to  the  sea, 
We  will  come  and  sail  with  thee, — 
Steer  our  bark  to  lonely  isle, 
Far  aloof  from  wicked  wile ; 
Placid  life  shall  glide  away, 
Dreaming,  dreaming,  day  by  day. 


XIV. 

LOVE'S   EXILE. 

RETURN,  return,  my  banished  lover ; 

Stricken  heart,  no  longer  stray. 
Oh,  let  my  yearning  breast  recover 

All  the  peace  you  took  away ! 

Come  back,  come  back,  I'm  lone  and  weary, 
Longing,  waiting,  day  by  day ; 

Waking  through  the  midnight  eerie, 
I  can  only  watch  and  pray. 

Forgive,  forgive,  my  heart  is  breaking. 

Come,  oh,  come,  thou  hast  the  balm, — 
The  only  balm  to  soothe  its  aching, 

Bringing  back  my  wonted  calm ! 


LOVE'S  EXILE.  3 1 

Thou  canst  not  come?     Then  I  must  follow, 

Though  I  brave  the  cruel  sea. 
The  heartless  world  is  false  and  hollow: 

Better,  far,  is  death  with  thee. 


XV. 

THE  QUEST  OF  LOVE. 

OH,  holy  love,  where  dwellest  thou  ? 
A  pilgrim,  urged  by  pious  vow, 
Devoted  at  thy  shrine  would  bow 

And  lay  a  heart  of  truth. 
Guide  me  to  thy  enchanted  mount, 
And  bathe  me  in  that  living  fount 
Which  blots  remorseless  Time's  account 

And  gives  immortal  youth ; 


THE   QUEST   OF   LOVE.  33 

Impart  the  secret  cipher  key 
To  unlock  the  sacred  mystery, 
And  read  from  book  of  destiny 

The  riddle  of  my  life. 
Gifted  with  poet's  second-sight, 
And  led  by  fancy's  magic  light, 
Must  I  pursue  the  visions  bright 

Wherewith  thy  realm  is  rife? 


On  nature's  mother  lap  recline, 
And,  gazing  in  her  face,  divine 
The  traits  that  multiform  combine 

In  harmonies  unknown? 
Or  dig  the  inestimable  ore 
From  mines  of  philosophic  lore, 
Which  ancient  sages  bade  explore 

To  win  the  alchemic  stone? 


34  THE   QUEST   OF   LOVE. 

Enshrined  in  purest  maiden  breast, 
Fit  temple  for  the  heavenly  guest, 
There,  say,  hast  thou  set  up  thy  rest 

And  bid  thy  votaries  come? 
Or  else  in  friendship's  warm  embrace, 
Or  fellow-feeling  for  our  race, 
In  patriot  zeal  or  hermit  grace 

Is  thy  congenial  home? 


Each  source  my  trusting  spirit  tries; 
Each  specious  hope  exhausted  lies, 
A  group  of  blighted  vanities, 

"In  Disappointment's  grave." 
Like  bubbles  dancing  down  the  stream 
Freighted  with  rainbow  hues  that  gleam 
A  moment  in  the  sun's  bright  beam, 

Then  burst  upon  the  wave. 


THE   QUEST  OF   LOVE.  35 

Hast  thou  no  place  of  peaceful  rest, 
But  wanderest  from  breast  to  breast, 
An  angel  visitant  at  best 

That  mockest  young  desire? 
A  weary  pilgrimage  was  mine, 
Oft  dreaming  I  had  found  thy  shrine 
Where  ignis  fatuus  chanced  to  shine, 

No  constant  altar's  fire. 


And  still  for  love  my  bosom  sighed ; 
Nor  was  my  prayer  at  last  denied : 
A  small,  still  voice  within  replied 

In  dictates  from  above, — 
"  Be  duty's  thorny  pathway  trod, 
Nor  shun  the  cross,  nor  fear  the  rod ; 
Love  pleasure  not,  love  only  God, 

For  God  alone  is  love." 


XVI. 

ODE  TO  LOVE. 

A  WORD  of  nature's  coinage, — love. 

She  never  struck  a  truer. 
The  silvery  sound  alone  will  prove 

.The  metal  to  be  pure. 
A  sympathetic  thrill  it  starts, 
Which  makes  it  current  with  young  hearts 

When  littered  by  a  wooer. 


ODE   TO    LOVE.  37 

Was  human  passion  ever  seen 
In  fitter  garments  dressed? 
Soft,  flowing,  modest,  and  serene, 
Like  nature's  robe  of  living  green 
That  soothes  the  tender  eye  the  best, 
Its  gentle  cadence  soothes  the  breast. 

Love  wields  mysterious  power. 
The  few  who  know  its  quiet  use 

Achieve  momentous  victories. 
Weak  woman  makes  it  her  strong  tower 
Whence  she  displays  the  flag  of  truce, 
Her  constant  watchword  peace. 

Her  wont  is  thither  to  retreat 

When  clouds  of  sorrow  hover  o'er; 
There  safest  refuge  doth  she  meet 
When  man's  fierce  passions  in  their  heat 
On  her  devoted  head  would  pour, 
Though  the  sin  lieth  at  his  door. 


38  ODE   TO   LOVE. 

Thou  better  angel  of  the  soul, 
Mild  umpire  of  the  passions, 
To  shame  their  wayward  fashions ; 
When,  subject  to  thy  just  control, 

Intestine  quarrels  cease, 
How  brotherly  they,  hand  in  hand, 
Enchanted  by  the  magic  wand, 
Press  onward  to  their  heavenly  goal 
And  win  the  prize  of  peace. 


Harmony  of  the  universe, 

Thou  wast  its  mother  and  its  nurse. 

Profound  thou  didst  inspire 
The  mystic  dance  trod  by  the  spheres 

In  honor  to  their  sire. 
Their  orbits,  various  as  their  years, 

Form  strings  to  heaven's  living  lyre; 
In  joyful  concert  thus  they  move, 
Forever  chanting  "God  is  love." 


ODE   TO   LOVE.  39 

Friend  of  helpless  infancy, 
Our  earliest  vows  are  due  to  thee ; 
Babes  owe  thee  their  first  lisping  lay; 
Because  thou  art  the  mother's  stay 
When,  dreading  the  untimely  blight, 
She  watcheth  through  the  livelong  night 
Her  drooping  infant,  at  whose  feeblest  cries 
Her  heart  is  rent  with  sympathetic  sighs. 

Now  with  soft  slumber's  chain  'tis  bound, 

Captive  to  larger  freedom  led; 
It  scarcely  breathes,  but  sleeps  as  sound 

As  if  the  gentle  soul  had  fled. 
Death  oft  in  that  disguise  is  found. 

"  'Tis  strange.     Oh,  no,  my  child's  not  dead  ; 
We  must  not  and  we  will  not  part!" 
She  clasps  it  wildly  to  her  heart 
And  strives  to  break  the  envious  chain, 
And  yearns  to  catch  its  breath  again. 
In  vain,  alas  !  'tis  all  in  vain ; 


40  ODE   TO   LOVE. 

For  that  strong  chain  she  cannot  break, 
From  that  sound  sleep  it  cannot  wake ; 
Conviction's  chill  doth  o'er  her  creep : 
It  is — it  is  death's  chain — death's  sleep. 

But  love  outlives  the  lost  one's  tomb 
Its  dismal  precincts  to  illume, 
And  half  dispels  the  horrid  gloom, 

Undamped  by  its  foul  breath. 
Not  Lethe's  flood  can  drown  the  flame, 
It  laughs  to  scorn  his  magic  name; 
In  calm  or  storm  'tis  still  the  same, 

For  "'love  is  strong  as  death." 

But  oh,  "  when  youth  and  beauty  meet," 
And  eyes  congenial  mutual  greet 
Each  other  for  the  first,  and  seem 
To  know  each  other  well,  and  deem 

That  they  have  long  been  friends, 
Say,  is  it  but  a  dream 

That  heated  fancy  sends? 


UNIVERSITY 


Nay,  Heaven's  mysterious  wisdom  finds 
Unsought  such  boon  for  docile  minds, 
And  though  it  far  surpass  their  dreams, 
Their  joy  is  all  it  sweetly  seerns. 
Even  as  the  bird  perceives  its  mate, 

And  will  not  own  another, 
They  fondly  think  that  happy  fate 

Made  them  to  be  together. 

Smiles  he?     Her  cheeks  with  gladness  glow, 
Or  looks  he  downcast?     Tears  congenial  flow. 
She  loves  his  likings,  what  he  blames  forswears, 
Adopting  even  his  foibles  unawares. 
The  partial  mirror  of  each  changing  mood 
Reflects  his  life,  each  feature  more  imbued. 

Oh,  Poesy,  resign  the  task, 
Thou  canst  not  wear  the  lover's  mask. 
In  every  tongue  the  theme  thou'st  tried, 
O'er  every  land  the  strain  has  died 


42  ODE   TO   LOVE. 

That  strove  the  tender  tale  to  unfold, 

Yet  left  it  more  than  half  untold. 

For  every  happy,  new-met  pair 

Bid  thee  the  pleasing  theme  prolong 
And  consummate  the  unfinished  song. 

Exhaustless  as  the  freeborn  air, 

The  choirs  of  heaven  the  task  must  share; 
To  them  the  pleasing  task  doth  most  belong. 

See  the  group  of  sister  graces, 
Clasped  in  each  other's  fond  embraces, 
Smiling  in  each  other's  faces. 
Faith  and  Hope  the  thread  entwine 
Of  human  destiny  Divine, 
But,  Charity,  the  clew  is  thine. 

Faith  is  our  shepherdess,  fair  guide ; 
With  her  we  climb  the  mountain  side 

Where  fruits  of  virtue  grow. 
And  mounted  now  on  Pisgah's  height, 


ODE   TO   LOVE.  43 

See  promised  Canaan,  our  birthright, 
Where  milk  and  honey  flow. 

When  nightly  gathered  to  her  fold, 
Each  straggler  sought,  the  number  told, 

Secure  she  bids  us  sleep. 
Though  thieves  around  your  shelter  stalk, 
And  pestilence  in  darkness  walk, 

Believe,  and  I  will  keep. 

And  pious  vestal,  brighter  hope, 

E'en  in  the  bosom  of  despair 
A  constant  vigil  thou  dost  hold, 
Lest  life's  Promethean  fire  grow  cold ; 

Still  promising  a  sky  more  fair 
Beyond  the  clouds  through  which  we  grope. 
Come  dwell  with  me,  thrice-welcome  guest, 

And  bring  thy  sovereign  balm ; 
Bind  up  the  heart  that  grief  hath  riven, 
Pronounce  the  wanderer's  sins  forgiven, 


44  ODE   TO   LOVE. 

The  troubled  waters  calm. 
Physician  of  the  soul,  thy  means  are  blest. 

But,  sweetest  virgin  of  the  group, 

To  thee  the  palm  be  given; 
More  fair  than  Faith,  more  bright  than  Hope, 

Love,  thou  alone  art  heaven ! 


xvn. 
HOPE  DEFERRED. 

PRAY  on,  pray  on,  God  sleepeth  not, 
Though  His  ear  seem  dull,  and  our  cause  forgot. 
'Tis  the  trial  of  faith ;    oh,  doubt  it  not ! 
For  it  worketh  patience  to  bless  our  lot 
In  days  to  come. 

Hope  on,  hope  on,  though  hope  be  delayed, 
And  with  sickness  of  heart  our  hopes  be  repaid. 
Still  cherish  the  bud  'neath  adversity's  shade, 
For  the  later  to  bloom  will  be  last  to  fade 
In  days  to  come. 


46  HOPE   DEFERRED. 

Love  on,  love  on,  nor  impatient  complain 
That  love  gropes  in  darkness  and  labors  in  pain. 
?Tis  the  hour  before  dawn  of  charity's  reign, 
Who  seeks  not  her  own,  but  shall  all  things  gain 
In  days  to  come. 


XVIII. 


WEDDING  ANNIVERSARY. 

WELCOME,  returning  bridal  day, 
Thy  memory  knows  no  decay. 
Each  year  confirms  our  plighted  truth 
With  promise  of  perpetual  youth. 

Love  grows  not  old ;   its  daily  cares 
Reveal  new  graces  unawares ; 
While  added  joys  increase  the  store 
Laid  up  in  heaven  for  evermore. 


XIX. 

LOVE  BIDES  ITS  TIME. 

KEEP  the  secret  well  concealed ; 
Tell  it  not  by  conscious  word : 
Love  can  wait  till  time-revealed, 

'Till  betrayed  by  patient  eyes, 

'Till  from  tender  tone  inferred, 
Or  from  act  in  artless  guise. 

Gentle  influence  love  will  bring, 
Like  the  incense-laden  breeze, 
Balmy  breath  of  budding  spring, 


LOVE   BIDES   ITS   TIME.  49 

Bearing  joys  we  know  not  whence ; 

Calm  content  and  trustful  ease, 
Satisfying  soul  and  sense. 

Not  by  passion's  hungry  fires, 

Nor  by  raptures  love  e'er  lives : 
Higher  motive  love  requires. 

Love's  concern  for  self  is  small. 
Love,  (masking,  freely  gives; 
But  in  giving  gaineth  all. 


XX. 

LOVE'S  SILENT   INFLUENCE. 

LOVE  tells  its  story  with  the  eye. 

How  well  the  tale  is  understood, 
The  smiles  of  answering  eyes  reply, 

And  prove  the  silent  language  good. 

With  noiseless  steps  love  comes  and  goes, 
And  sweet  the  fragrance  of  its  breath  ; 

We  feel  its  blessing  soothe  our  woes, 
But  cannot  tell  the  words  it  saith. 

Nor  think  that  love  will  claim  its  fee, 
Though  deep  the  debt  its  zeal  may  earn; 

Love  is  a  giver  rich  and  free; 
Its  bounty  asks  for  no  return. 


LOVE'S   SILENT   INFLUENCE.  51 

Wherever  love's  fair  river  flows, 
Another  Eden  charms  the  sight; 

Where  beauty's  modest  buds  unclose, 
Diffusing  ever  new  delight. 

The  crystal  waters,  clear  and  pure, 
Whose  channel  is  the  human  heart, 

But  circulate  to  cleanse  and  cure, 
And  everlasting  life  impart. 

Flow  on,  forever,  stream  of  love; 

Thy  living  spring  can  never  fail. 
It  wells  amid  the  courts  above, 

Its  fountain  is  the  "holy  grail." 


XXI. 

BOYHOOD'S  LOVE. 

MY  boyhood's  love,  I  feel  it  still ; 

It  lingers  like  a  parting  knell, 
Though  manhood's  cares  the  place  would  fill 

Where  it  alone  was  wont  to  dwell. 

My  boyhood's  love  renews  its  spell. 

Bedecked  with  charms,  all  nature  smiled ; 

With  brightest  visions  fancy  glowed ; 
The  pliant  heart  was  fain  beguiled, 

And  rapturous  tears  unbidden  flowed. 

Dear  boyhood's  love,  by  heaven  bestowed. 


53 


How  ardently  my  bosom  yearned 
To  kindle  in  some  kindred  breast 

The  sacred  flame  in  mine  that  burned, — 
To  bless  with  love  and  thus  be  blessed. 
Sweet  boyhood's  love,  thou  heavenly  guest. 


How  deep,  how  truthful  were  the  vows 
That  young  devotion  freely  breathed ; 

For  love's  own  chaplet  bound  my  brows, 
Of  faith  and  high- wrought  hopes  en  wreathed. 
Blest  boyhood's  love  by  heaven  bequeathed. 


The  generous  throb,  th'  impassioned  sigh, 
How  prodigal  their  wealth  to  give; 

At  love's  behest  content  to  die, 
For  love  alone  resolved  to  live. 
My  boyhood's  love  shall  life  outlive. 

5* 


54 


And  many  a  tear  regret  hath  stole, 
For  every  joy,  for  every  pain, 

Embalmed  in  faithful  memory's  scroll. 
Oh,  let  me  be  a  boy  again, 
And  boyhood's  love  renew  its  reign  ! 


XXII. 

WEDDED   LOVE. 

THE  perfect  mutual  love  of  one  for  one, 
Each  living  only  in  the  other's  life, 
The  holy  partnership  of  man  and  wife, 

'Tis  paradise,  'tis  heaven  on  earth  begun. 

But  is  life's  battle  over,  duty  done, 

When  private  peace  and  selfish  joys  are  rife? 
No  wider  field  for  higher  human  strife? 

So  ends  the  game  with  Eden  barely  won? 

Nay;   wedded    love   must   burst  the   bounds  of 

home, 

Must  seek  the  lost  sheep  of  the  common  fold, 
Must  penetrate  the  purlieus  of  despair. 

When  it  hath  rescued  all  the  souls  that  roam 
Forlorn  the  world's  inhospitable  wold, 

Then  only  love  may  full  contentment  share. 


XXIII. 

"  IF  I  LOVE  YOU,  WHAT  IS  THAT  TO 
YOU  ?" 

THOUGH  I  love  thee,  heed  not  me. 

Beauty  is  a  sacred  pledge. 
Prove  thyself  a  pure  trustee. 

Though  all  love  thee,  be  not  vain, 

Claiming  as  thy  privilege 
Charms  which  angels  dearly  gain. 

Though  I  worship  in  thy  bower, 
'Tis  not  Passion's  greedy  flame, 
Seeking  whom  it  may  devour. 


57 


'Tis  the  homage  due  to  Good. 

None  but  One  may  claim  that  name ; 
He  imparts  to  whom  He  would. 

What  He  giveth  His  remains  : 

For  who  makes  that  food  his  choice 
Union  thus  with  Him  attains. 

He  divides  His  joy  with  thee. 
His  the  music  of  thy  voice. 
Smiles  betray  His  witchery. 

He  bestows  the  power  to  please ; 

Lending  every  winning  way, 
Native  grace  and  careless  ease. 

Only  blemishes  are  ours; 

Errors  leading  us  astray ; 
Death  and  all  its  direful  powers. 


58 


Every  noble  tendency, 

Every  blessing  worth  our  strife, 
Faith,  and  Hope,  and  Charity, 

All  that  cometh  from  above, — 

But  reflections  of  His  life, 
Revelations  of  His  love. 

Gazing  in  another's  eyes, 

Fondly  seeking  signs  of  truth, 
Haply  one  may  find  the  prize. 

Thus  His  flesh  and  blood  He  gives, 

Food  that  feeds  immortal  youth. 
Thus  man  sees  His  face  and  lives. 


XXIV. 

L'ENVOI. 


CONSTANCY  (1888). 

THE  sands  of  mortal  life  are  running  low, 
The  pleasant  way,  so  long  together  trod, 
Draws  near  its  end, — the  bosom  of  our  God. 

The  pitcher  breaks,  the  fountain  fails  to  flow. 

What  waits  us  in  the  silent  land  we  know; 
For  while  we  leave  the  body's  empty  clod 
To  moulder  'neath  the  consecrated  sod, 

Beyond,  united  still,  our  spirits  go. 

As  one  we  drank  earth's  cup  of  bitter-sweet, 
We  breathed  as  one  its  duty-laden  breath, 
And  common  cares  revealed  the  mutual  heart. 

In  Heaven  one  path  attracts  our  willing  feet. 
What   God  hath  joined,  not   man,  nor  time, 

nor  death, 
Nor  life  immortal  shall  prevail  to  part. 

/far     OP  THB^^ 

miVERSITY; 

V< 


U.C.BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


CD45b33DE3 


I 


